Fatir (Tajik Flaky Butter Flatbread)
Local name: Фатир
In short: Thin, flaky rounds of butter-layered dough baked until crisp and golden. Eaten with soup or torn up as the base of qurutob. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 275 kcal
Fatir is the layered, flaky flatbread of Tajik kitchens, rolled thin and folded with melted butter so it bakes into crisp, delicate layers. It is eaten with soups such as shurbo, with tea, and it is the traditional base of qurutob, where torn pieces soak up the yogurt dressing. At home a very hot baking sheet gives a result close to the oven-baked original.
Instructions
- Mix the flour and salt, add the warm water and knead for 8 minutes until smooth. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Roll one piece into a very thin rectangle about 40 x 25 cm (16 x 10 in).
- Brush with melted butter and roll up tightly from the long side into a rope. Coil it into a spiral and tuck the end underneath. Repeat with the rest and rest all four for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 230°C (450°F) with a heavy baking sheet inside.
- Flatten each spiral with your palm, then roll gently into a round about 22 cm (9 in) wide. Brush with butter and sprinkle with sesame.
- Bake one or two breads at a time on the hot sheet for 10 to 12 minutes, until deep golden and crisp at the edges.
- Cool on a rack. Serve whole, or tear into pieces for qurutob.
Tips
- Roll the dough very thin before buttering, since more layers give a flakier fatir. If the dough springs back, rest it for 10 minutes.
- Ghee can replace the butter in some Tajik homes. It gives a nuttier flavor and handles high heat well.
Questions and answers
How do I keep fatir crisp?
Cool it completely on a rack and store it in a paper bag. Refresh it in a hot oven for 3 minutes before serving.
Can I freeze fatir?
Yes. Freeze baked breads in a bag for up to 2 months and warm them in a hot oven for 5 minutes.
What is fatir used for?
It is served with soups, with tea and with dairy such as chakka. Torn into pieces, it is the traditional base of qurutob.
How long does it take to make Fatir (Tajik Flaky Butter Flatbread)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Fatir (Tajik Flaky Butter Flatbread)?
About 275 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 38 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 275 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
